US Men's National Team - what went wrong?

Her kid's a keeper, so she's oriented to defend them. Us vs them, my side vs. your side, etc. Just like society.

I'll flip it on you. Most kids are field players, so of course it's the keepers fault. Us v. them, my side vs. your side. Just like society...or more like American society...yeah keepers take flack in Europe too but not to the extent they do here and they aren't expected to be miracle workers either--- even Neuer gets scored on.
 
I'll flip it on you. Most kids are field players, so of course it's the keepers fault. Us v. them, my side vs. your side. Just like society...or more like American society...yeah keepers take flack in Europe too but not to the extent they do here and they aren't expected to be miracle workers either--- even Neuer gets scored on.

Neuer would have made both saves. Howard, to me, looked fat and slow and got the start based on his reputation.

I actually like Howard. He was a great keeper. But not last night.
 
Neuer would have made both saves. Howard, to me, looked fat and slow and got the start based on his reputation.

I actually like Howard. He was a great keeper. But not last night.

Errr...look familiar (and from closer). :rolleyes: If Howard had truly f'ed it, as opposed to well maybe someone else coulda done better in that particular circumstance, I'd be the first on his case.


or

 
Wow all those millions for what? Women's team look like a bargain, at least they produce results

From https://twitter.com/WaltHickey/status/917937410872430596

DL0q4giWAAUtK_T.jpg
 
If both of these tools aren't shown the door, then we deserve everything we get. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome.
I've heard about 6 interviews with Taylor Twellman in the past 20 hours. He kept repeating the "Definition of Insanity" quote. Did he just hear this for the first time and is now trying to spread it to the world?

If my kids didn't love playing soccer, I would have protested US Soccer with my wallet last year when they honked up the age groups.
 
I've heard about 6 interviews with Taylor Twellman in the past 20 hours. He kept repeating the "Definition of Insanity" quote. Did he just hear this for the first time and is not trying to spread it to the world?

If my kids didn't love playing soccer, I would have protested US Soccer with my wallet last year when they honked up the age groups.

I've heard one interview with him where he sounded like he was seriously going to have an aneurysm on camera...he was SO pissed and rightfully so. I've been using that saying for years and in this situation, if they don't fire these guys, it's exactly what it is...insanity.

Kinda like Lucy and Charlie Brown with the football, same scenario over and over but expecting a different result.

There's two ways this can go down. The USSF shows Arena and Gulati the door and rebuild or they double down with stupid and continue down the drain.
 
Neuer would have made both saves. Howard, to me, looked fat and slow and got the start based on his reputation.

I actually like Howard. He was a great keeper. But not last night.

C’mon, that 2nd goal was a ridiculous shot. 1 inch off the far post into the side netting. That guy will never score another goal like that ever. And he should have never been given that much time and space.
 
It does. Both responded like spin doctors. Telling us everything is fine. Ugh...
But wasn't
Gulati got the job because of his influence in MLS. He was never a serious player, coach, or referee. The origin of his career was apparently re-organizing the water cart at a state ODP camp. Everybody liked his result so much that he just kept getting promoted.

Reminds me of this --
Didn't know Sunil was a water-boy.
200_s.gif
 
How does he not resign today?
(He= Gulati. Bruce won't have to resign. He just won't be asked back when the US plays Belize in a friendly next year).
 
U.S. Soccer failures has an easy fix
https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/world-cup-articles/us-soccer-failures-has-an-easy-fix_aid43012

"U.S. Soccer is held back by the closed market that has kept the Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise owners happy, but the rest of the sport hindered for over two decades. A closed market that provides a safety net to encourage mediocrity and punish greatness. It’s the antithesis of growth and success. It stands against everything that the American dream represents. Yet this league has prospered financially in the States because the Federation endorses it as the First Division of Professional Soccer."

"If you are actually passionate about the future of this sport, supporting franchises that stand in the way of actual growth is a direct hindrance. If you want to see the actual potential of soccer in this country to be unleashed, act with your dollar and voice support for an open market.

An open market allows for clubs to move up the pyramid with promotion or to fall off with relegation. It encourages player development with success from clubs being built to sell-on players and profit from that business. It creates an environment where innovation is encouraged and individuals are driven to their best.

While it may seem like a grand dream, there really is an obvious path to changing the culture of the sport in this country. U.S. Soccer Federation needs to step up and realize that this current closed system is not just or fair. Or even beneficial to the mission of the Federation.

This is not a 10-year change or even a five-year change. This is an immediate change that can happen as soon as 2018. U.S. Soccer Federation tells MLS they need to open a path to the league and create an open market or U.S. Soccer will endorse another league as the First Division of Professional Soccer in this country.

An open market will improve the culture of the sport overnight. Competition breeds excellence and as long as there is no real competition, there is no real need for teams to pursue excellence.

It’s time for the arrogance of U.S. Soccer, MLS, and other figureheads to realize this failure is not fixed from a coaching hire or a hope that the next generation will be better. It’s time to change the basic fabric of the game in this country.

It’s time to support an open market."
 
The Missing Years: U.S. Soccer’s Development Gap
Brian Sciaretta explored the past three decades of player development and noticed few players born in the early 1990s have panned out—a situation that continues to haunt the men's national team.

http://americansoccernow.com/articl...ccer-s-development-gap#/.WddNFNcwH3A.facebook

Pundits have questioned tactics, player selection, heart, and a whole other set of issues. What is rarely discussed, however, is a black hole of development among the American-born/raised players born in 1990-1994 and 1996.
 
The Missing Years: U.S. Soccer’s Development Gap
Brian Sciaretta explored the past three decades of player development and noticed few players born in the early 1990s have panned out—a situation that continues to haunt the men's national team.

http://americansoccernow.com/articl...ccer-s-development-gap#/.WddNFNcwH3A.facebook

Pundits have questioned tactics, player selection, heart, and a whole other set of issues. What is rarely discussed, however, is a black hole of development among the American-born/raised players born in 1990-1994 and 1996.
Interesting and informative article. It does answer a few questions as to why USMNT is troubled, but many more questions are still left unanswered.
 
In the past what the USMNT might have lacked in technical skill and sophistication they made up for in grit and work rate, determination and a refusal to lose. Against Trinidad they didn't even have that.

So now we are hearing the usual grumbling about US youth soccer placing too much focus on winning vs. development. I think this is misguided and overly simplistic, and in our search for answers we need to be very careful not to sacrifice our drive to win. It's the whole point of playing the game after all.

The experience of successful soccer countries around the world has shown that winning and development are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Here's an instructive article about how in Spain, winning is a fundamental part of youth soccer training culture from the very young ages. Oh yeah, and they are pretty good at development too.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ll-coaches-barcelona-winning-natural-instinct
 
In the past what the USMNT might have lacked in technical skill and sophistication they made up for in grit and work rate, determination and a refusal to lose. Against Trinidad they didn't even have that.

So now we are hearing the usual grumbling about US youth soccer placing too much focus on winning vs. development. I think this is misguided and overly simplistic, and in our search for answers we need to be very careful not to sacrifice our drive to win. It's the whole point of playing the game after all.

The experience of successful soccer countries around the world has shown that winning and development are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Here's an instructive article about how in Spain, winning is a fundamental part of youth soccer training culture from the very young ages. Oh yeah, and they are pretty good at development too.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ll-coaches-barcelona-winning-natural-instinct

One of the things that struck me about the article was the use of video analysis. I think video analysis of your own play and the play of successful teams particularly as it relates to decision making would be a critical tool in improving soccer IQ. I think for most kids its easier to learn visually rather than verbally. How many clubs include video analysis in their training? From what I have seen its few, if any.
 
One of the things that struck me about the article was the use of video analysis. I think video analysis of your own play and the play of successful teams particularly as it relates to decision making would be a critical tool in improving soccer IQ. I think for most kids its easier to learn visually rather than verbally. How many clubs include video analysis in their training? From what I have seen its few, if any.
11 of our 14 games this year will be on film. Our coach will do 2 film breakdown meetings this year.

I would think with the proliferation of websites like Hudle, VidSwap, etc... there must be many teams doing video analysis, from what research I have done these services are growing and relatively affordable if you split it between all the families on a team.
 
IMHO the problems start at the youth level. The pay-to-play system and multiple gaming league systems need to be overhauled.

I think the biggest problem is the youth coach education. Too many coaches just get their initial 16 hours of E training and never get any further training. Some get their D training, but few go past D. The lowest level (Grade 8) referees are required to get (yearly) 5 hours of face to face training, complete 3 hours of online training and take a test. Most licensed professionals are required to attend a designated number of hours of continuing education. How come soccer coaches do not have to attend a designated number of hours of training to keep their coaching license? Coach licenses should be good for two years and only renewed after the completion of a designated number of hours (I would suggest 20 hours) of continuing coaching education to include concussion protocol, LOTG changes, goalkeeper training techniques and coaching techniques, or move to the next higher coaching license level. The training needs to be standardized by US Soccer and administered by certified trainers. US Soccer already has a blueprint for training and certification in the Referee program, so it would be fairly easy to implement for the coaches. This would help build better coaches at the youth level and force out the lazy and bad coaches.
 
Back
Top